When Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Arik Armstead visited Fortune School's Hazel Mahone College Prep campus on July 11, he brought more than just autographed footballs and NFL celebrity. The Sacramento Observer reported that the 2024 Walter Payton Man of the Year winner carried something more valuable to Sacramento's young students: the superpower of confidence through literacy.
The event marked the culmination of a five-week summer reading program from the Armstead Academic Project and Teach for America, in partnership with Fortune School. According to CapRadio, this program provides instruction based on the science of reading for rising first, second, and third graders. For Armstead, the Elk Grove native whose parents met at Sacramento State back in 1980, this visit represented a homecoming with purpose.
From Anxiety to Advocacy
Armstead's dedication to literacy stems from deeply personal experiences. "I was bright, but when it came time to read out loud and in front of people, I really lacked the confidence to do it — and that really stunted my growth," Armstead explained to CapRadio. That childhood struggle became the foundation for his new comic book, "Discovering My Superpower," which he read aloud to students during the event.
The comic book was produced by the Armstead Academic Project with local comic book shop and publisher Impound Comics, located in downtown Sacramento. What is Armstead's superpower? Confidence. "You have to be the first person to believe in yourself," he read to the Fortune School students.
Tackling Sacramento's Literacy Crisis
The timing of Armstead's initiative couldn't be more critical. CapRadio notes that a recent Sacramento Literacy Foundation report found that nearly two-thirds of third graders are reading below grade level. Dr. Margaret Fortune noted the achievement gap among African American students is "severe and persistent" in Sacramento.
At Fortune School specifically, the numbers tell a sobering story. According to U.S. News Education, at Fortune, 21% of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 29% scored at or above that level for reading. The school's minority student enrollment is 99%, and the school enrolls 73% economically disadvantaged students.
The Armstead Academic Project: More Than a Program
Since launching in 2019, Armstead's nonprofit has become an educational powerhouse. Yahoo News reported that more than 516,000 youth have been impacted directly or indirectly by the project. Armstead has donated more than $2 million toward its efforts, with community contributors donating some $500,000 more since the project began.
This spring, Armstead solidified his commitment to Sacramento's educational future through a groundbreaking partnership. According to Sacramento State University, President Luke Wood announced a new partnership with Armstead's nonprofit to guarantee admission for underserved youth. "I feel like this is long overdue," Armstead said. "I literally owe my life to Sacramento State. My parents met here back in 1980."
Recognition and Impact
Armstead's sustained commitment culminated in February when he received the NFL's highest honor. It was Armstead's fifth nomination for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, having been the 49ers' nominee for four consecutive years before capturing this year's award. As reported by Yahoo News, as a Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year honoree, Armstead will receive a $265,000 donation to the charity of his choice.
"I believe in humanity. I believe that we're all more alike than we are different and I believe that all of us have the power to be the change that we want to see in our society," Armstead said in accepting the award. "Let's define success by a new metric, not by the things that we acquire, but by the people we positively impact."
Building Educational Equity
The partnership between Armstead and Fortune School represents more than individual philanthropy—it signals a coordinated approach to addressing Sacramento's educational challenges. As Fortune noted to CapRadio, "There are things that we can do as educators and community members to roll up our sleeves and teach kids to read. That is the gateway for everything else."
Students at the July 11 event received free books from the Sacramento Public Library, making the celebration both educational and practical. For Armstead, whose influence extends beyond direct service into policy advocacy, the message to Fortune School students that day echoed his own journey from struggling reader to confident leader: sometimes the greatest superpower isn't throwing a perfect spiral, but having the confidence to believe in yourself and the commitment to lift others up along the way.
